The build up of this gig was pretty big for me.
As I missed Hot Hot Heat’s last tour of Australia, I was keen to see what all the fuss was about, and – just quietly – wasn’t disappointed.
Wolf and Cub were first up to show us their 70’s rocking style. I remember seeing these guys for the first time and being utterly confused. Two drummers can sometimes be far too much but W&C’s use of percussion and mixing up playing styles constantly was superbly done. They have a while to go until their onstage presence will fill and captivate a venue, however their potential is huge. Nothing to do with the music, but the Kurt Cobain, ecstasy-ridden face of the W&C’s bassist was quite irritating. A stylist is in order because he sticks out like a sore thumb from the rest of his band mates. A busted snare drum cut the set short, which was just as well as W&C’s members were irritable and it wasn’t one of their most outstanding performances.
Next up were Faker, whom I’m happy to say since my last viewing of them have either employed a new techie or have insisted that he remain sober during their sets, as the sound quality could not be faulted. Nathan Hudson did his normal thing of running from one side of the stage to the other, arms flailing, and crashing into his band mates along the way. It seemed they were all having some kind of private joke that night as they were all smirking and laughing with each other, which is always great to see – happy bands make for happy audiences. They played all the usual crowd pleasers, Kids on Overload, The Familiar and Hurricane and the crowd were as pleased as punch, dancing and frolicking like baby fauns in spring!
And next up, the band everyone was waiting for – Hot Hot Heat!
And did these boys know how to work their stage – dressed up to the nines in suites, ties and private school blazers – the looked everything a brit- pop-rock band should look like. The chicky-chic guitars blasted into the set with Jingle Jangle off the new album Elevator. The crowd was immediately transformed into a heaving sea of kicking, jumping and almost dancing HHH demons. Steve Bays carried off his role as front man to perfection – he could have thrown in so many more karaoke moments to the crowd but didn’t – he kept it to a minimum, which was great because we were there to hear him sing and poke his tongue out. In or Out was next followed closely by Island of the Honest Man. Then, we were privileged with an old song, Bandages, in which Steve jumped down and up to the barrier to sing along with his adoring fans – one of which managed to grab onto his curly locks (I wonder who that was?).
But HHH didn’t just please the dancers in us, they definitely took us to another level when playing Save Us SOS by the intensity of the song. Every single band member was involved and gave them a little more of a chance to show their musical ability by adding a jam like feel to the song. The set was finished with their new single Middle of Nowhere (before which Steve gave a special shout out to JJJ for the airtime they have been receiving) and crowd favourite Goodnight Goodnight, then back for their encore – Elevator. The set was about an hour long – and a few grumbled it could have gone for longer, which of course it always can when you are enjoying yourself. But I can safely say there wasn’t a head there that didn’t bop or a leg that didn’t tap.
